seismology
Science of tremors
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of seismic waves through the Earth.
The field examines how vibrations travel through rock and soil, which reveals information about the planet's interior structure.
Seismologists monitor fault activity, assess earthquake risk, and work to improve early warning systems: The seismology department recorded tremors from across the region.
Point above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
liquefaction · shaking · intensity · rupture · hypocenter · mainshock · swarm · megathrust
Flat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- faultImperfection or blame
- riftCrack or estrangement
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
divergence · transform · boundary · continental · oceanic · lithosphere · asthenosphere · crust
Seismic sea surge
- liquefactionConversion to liquid state
- landslideMass of earth falling
- structural damageHarm to supporting elements
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
risk assessment · mitigation · early warning · preparedness · resilience
Seismological scale eponym
- intensityStrength or force level
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- durationLength of existence
- spectraBands of separated wavelengths
frequency · displacement · velocity · energy · logarithmic · scale · quantification
Longitudinal seismic wave
- S-waveTransverse seismic vibration
- surface wavesOscillations at interface boundaries
- body wavesSeismic energy within earth
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
frequency · velocity · waveform · dispersion · refraction · reflection · attenuation · wavefront
Device measuring motion forces
- broadbandFast internet access
- geophoneGround vibration detector
- sensorInput-detecting device
- networkInterconnected system
array · station · recording · digital · analog · sensitivity · calibration · noise
Imaging via cross-sections
- imagingProducing visual representations
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
- inversionReversal of position
- geodesyEarth measurement science
GPS · fieldwork · monitoring · data analysis · deep earth
epicenter
Point above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
foreshock · liquefaction · shaking · intensity · rupture · hypocenter · mainshock · swarm · megathrust
plate
Flat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- faultImperfection or blame
- riftCrack or estrangement
convergence · divergence · transform · boundary · continental · oceanic · lithosphere · asthenosphere · crust · mantle
tsunami
Seismic sea surge
- liquefactionConversion to liquid state
- landslideMass of earth falling
- structural damageHarm to supporting elements
vulnerability · risk assessment · mitigation · early warning · preparedness · resilience
Richter
Seismological scale eponym
- intensityStrength or force level
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- durationLength of existence
spectra · frequency · displacement · velocity · energy · logarithmic · scale · quantification
P-wave
Longitudinal seismic wave
- S-waveTransverse seismic vibration
- surface wavesOscillations at interface boundaries
- body wavesSeismic energy within earth
amplitude · frequency · velocity · waveform · dispersion · refraction · reflection · attenuation · wavefront · period
accelerometer
Device measuring motion forces
network · array · station · recording · digital · analog · sensitivity · calibration · noise · baseline
tomography
Imaging via cross-sections
- imagingProducing visual representations
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
- inversionReversal of position
geodesy · GPS · fieldwork · monitoring · data analysis · deep earth
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- STEMscience, engineering, mathematics, math, technology
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- earth science referencesgeology, volcano, earthquake, fossil, mineral
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- ologiesbiology, geology, psychology, sociology, ecology
seismologyvolcanology
Study of erupting mountains
meteorology · oceanography · glaciology · climatology · astronomy